PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Giannis Kabongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Reigns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roman Reigns has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kabongo
vs
Reigns

185 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
26
177 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giannis Kabongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roman Reigns!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Reigns darts in trying to clinch
and Kabongo counters with a three punch combo that has Reigns backing up. Reigns nods at Kabongo to acknowledge the strikes.
Kabongo has his takedown stuffed

and Reigns counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Reigns advances to half guard.
Reigns thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kabongo's head.
Kabongo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kabongo tries to get out of the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Reigns is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roman Reigns was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kabongo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Reigns counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kabongo won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kabongo is trying to get back to half guard.
Reigns throwing strikes but Kabongo manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kabongo wants to control but Reigns is keeping him busy.
Reigns regains half guard.
Reigns works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kabongo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Reigns on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kabongo throws an elbow that misses. Reigns uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kabongo's guard. Nice move by Reigns!
Reigns missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kabongo wants to get back to his feet but Reigns is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Reigns looking to pass the guard.
Reigns controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns trying to control the position from guard on top but Kabongo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Reigns thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kabongo looking for a sweep. Not yet Kabongo, not yet.
Reigns is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Roman Reigns hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kabongo fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giannis Kabongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Reigns misses
and Kabongo counters with a left and a right that stings Reigns.
Nice sprawl there from Kabongo as Reigns shoots in.
No luck for Kabongo with that takedown attempt.

Kabongo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Reigns is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Reigns is staying active underneath Kabongo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kabongo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kabongo stops Reigns from getting back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reigns regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kabongo.
Reigns wants to stand up but Kabongo is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reigns tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Reigns dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Reigns leaves Kabongo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kabongo fails with a takedown attempt.
Giannis Kabongo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Reigns is predictable there
and Kabongo counters with a thumping low kick.
Roman Reigns seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kabongo shoots and misses

and Reigns counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giannis Kabongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kabongo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Kabongo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Reigns is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Reigns is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Reigns gets back to full guard.
Reigns tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Roman Reigns has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reigns striking off his back but it's not causing Kabongo any problems.
Reigns trying to keep a closed guard but Kabongo is proving a slippery customer.
Reigns keeping moving, preventing Kabongo from controlling successfully.
Kabongo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Reigns throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kabongo tries to stand but Reigns is controlling from the bottom.
Kabongo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Reigns looking for a sweep. Not yet Reigns, not yet.
Kabongo throwing strikes but missing.
Kabongo preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns lands some strikes from the bottom.
Reigns wants to sweep but no luck.
Reigns has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Reigns striking off his back but it's not causing Kabongo any problems.
Kabongo trying to control but Reigns is working from the bottom.
Kabongo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kabongo trying to control but Reigns is working from the bottom.
Reigns controlling the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kabongo wants to control from the top but Reigns keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Giannis Kabongo just wasn't active enough.
Reigns goes for a double leg but Kabongo avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kabongo continues to drive forward.
Reigns prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns tries to pull guard but Kabongo won't allow it.
Reigns is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Kabongo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Reigns lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kabongo!
Reigns controlling his opponent.
Reigns thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reigns controlling from mount.
Kabongo is squirming around, avoiding Reigns's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roman Reigns will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Reigns defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kabongo.

Kabongo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Reigns's half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kabongo lands a nice short elbow.
Reigns makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Reigns.

Reigns has his foot on Kabongo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kabongo works his way back into a safe position though.
Kabongo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Reigns is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kabongo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reigns manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Reigns raining down hammerfists from mount.
Reigns unloads with some shots from mount but Kabongo bucks and avoids them well.
Reigns tries to control but Kabongo wriggling away.
Reigns tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Reigns stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reigns is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reigns moves in looking to clinch but Kabongo pushes him off.
Reigns throws a lazy uppercut
and Kabongo makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Reigns really felt that one!
Reigns tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kabongo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Reigns somewhat.
Nice takedown defense from Reigns. No joy for Kabongo on that attempt.
Kabongo misses with a takedown attempt

and Reigns counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kabongo!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Giannis Kabongo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reigns working the body and head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reigns tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Reigns decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Reigns will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Reigns is defended easily by Kabongo.
Reigns tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kabongo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kabongo fails with the takedown

and Reigns counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Reigns is looking to pass Kabongo's guard but actually Kabongo recovers to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kabongo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reigns engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Reigns missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kabongo keeping moving, preventing Reigns from controlling successfully.
Giannis Kabongo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roman Reigns is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Reigns not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Reigns comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Reigns winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Reigns!